Quotes from George Whitefield

Simple Bible statements, apt illustrations, and pertinent anecdotes, were the more common weapons that he used. The consequence was that his hearers always understood him. He never shot above their heads. Here again is one grand element of a preacher's success. He must labour by all means to be understood. It was a wise saying of Archbishop Usher, "To make easy things seem hard is every man's work; but to make hard things easy is the work of a great preacher.

Language like this, no doubt, seems foolishness and affectation to the world; but the well-instructed Bible reader will see in it the heartfelt experience of all the brightest saints. It is the language of men like Baxter, and Brainerd, and M'Cheyne. It is the same mind that was in the inspired Apostle Paul. Those that have most light and grace are always the humblest men.

Once become satisfied that a man loves you, and you will listen gladly to anything he has to say.

Live above the world, and underneath you shall be God's Everlasting Arms.

It is better to wear out than to rust out.

Congregations are lifeless because dead men preach to them.

Other men may preach the gospel better than I, but no man can preach a better gospel.

To preach more than half an hour, a man should be an angel himself or have angels for hearers.

I got more true knowledge from reading the Book of God in one month, than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men.

The fall of man is written in too legible characters not to be understood: Those that deny it, by their denying, prove it.

Left to himself, man is half beast and half devil.

Man is nothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God worketh in him to will and to do his good pleasure.

Thus was the King and the Lord of glory judged by man's judgment, when manifest in flesh: far be it from any of his ministers to expect better treatment.

Various are the pleas and arguments which men of corrupt minds frequently urge against yielding obedience to the just and holy commands of God.

For in Jesus Christ there is neither male nor female, bond nor free; even you may be the children of God, if you believe in Jesus.

If your souls were not immortal, and you in danger of losing them, I would not thus speak unto you; but the love of your souls constrains me to speak: methinks this would constrain me to speak unto you forever.

But he is unworthy the name of a minister of the gospel of peace, who is unwilling, not only to have his name cast out as evil, but also to die for the truths of the Lord Jesus.

The renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not to be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but an old one to pull down.

The Lord Jesus sits in heaven, ruling over all, and causing all things to work for his children's good.

We are immortal until our work on earth is done.

Lord Jesus, I am weary in Thy work, but not of it. If I have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak for Thee once more in the field, seal Thy truth, and come home to die.

I am tired in the Lord's work, but not tired of it.

God is well pleased when all our actions proceed from love, love to Himself, and love to immortal souls.

Oh let us continually keep faith in exercise, till it be entirely swallowed up in the boundless ocean of beatific vision.